Day 153: Saturday night madness

RUN: 1.1 miles

An early start and a day out today meant it was quite late by the time I set out on a short run.
It was freezing cold, the rain was soaking me to the skin and I was getting battered by the wind.

It's rare that I don't see a single other runner while I'm out, but I didn't see a single soul, running or otherwise, out tonight.

It's a good job those men in white coats didn't spot me, or they would definitely have taken me away - nobody in their right mind would have ventured out in that downpour. Not the most fun Saturday night I've ever had.
Here's today's run

Day 152: A close encounter of the spiky kind

RUN: 3.2 miles

I tried the new route again today, but since I was quite disappointed that it was only 2.8 miles the other day (it felt like a bit longer), I added on another loop to make it 3.2. Here's today's run

I also met my first hedgehog snuffling his way along the pavement. Cute!

Day 151: 'Resting' in the wind and rain

RUN: 1.1 miles

Just a little run today in horrible weather.
Wintry showers and strong winds made conditions uninspiring to say the least, so I just ran up the main road and back down again.
My right leg (still giving a bit of pain) will be glad of the rest, and I was very glad to get back inside.
Here's today's run

Day 150: Braving a new route

RUN: 2.8 miles

Feeling a bit better today, I thought I'd try a new route. I took a road quite near home, which I never tried before because, to be honest, I thought it was a big hill! Well it wasn't too big, and I think it might be a new addition to my list of favourite routes.

What did people do before Google Maps? It's a brilliant way of working out where and how far I'm going to go before I set off - especially if I'm trying somewhere new - and Streetview is a good tool for checking out the pavement/safety situation.

Another handy tool I've found for route planning is this website - footpathmaps.com - that shows all the public footpaths in the area. You need to visit early in the day though, or the free site runs out of data allocation! 

www.footpathmaps.com

 Here's today's run

Day 149: Not giving in to temptation

RUN: 3.2 miles

Tonight's run was a toughie. Even though it wasn't very long. Some days are just like that, I guess.

My big mistake was choosing a route that took me back past my front door after only one mile of my three-mile route. I was struggling and even had to stop and convince myself to carry on.

Lessons learned: I need to find some new routes close (but not too close) to home. I need a 'rest' day soon.
Here's today's run

Day 148: A bit of energetic window shopping

RUN: 5.2 miles

Yesterday's 10K run must have filled me with energy, because I felt like doing it all over again tonight.

I didn't quite make it to six miles again, but still a longer run than I would normally do on a weekday evening. I did one of my usual four-mile routes and when I got to the turning-back point, I just kept going. Plus it was quite a steep uphill climb, so I must have been feeling very energetic. I'd better get used to going further, because proper marathon training is creeping up fast, and I'll have to do regular four, five and six-mile runs in the evenings.

Anyway, I ran up to a bridal shop in Yeadon to look at some bridesmaid dresses in the window that my cousin has in mind for her wedding in May. We're booked in to try them on next Saturday, but I couldn't resist a sneak peek.

Here's the shop, but not the dresses - wouldn't like to blow any secrets.

One more thing about the Abbey Dash yesterday... One of the things that kept me going on the day was some sponsorship that came through early yesterday morning. It was from a man I met on a first aid course I did last week. Anthony Wild - also from Guiseley and also doing the Abbey Dash yesterday - and his wife Helen very kindly sponsored me. I have no other way of sending my thanks, so if you're reading this, thank you Anthony!

This is today's run

Day 147: Leeds Abbey Dash 10K 2012 race day!

RUN: 6.2 miles

Deicing the car early this morning, I wondered just what we were thinking getting up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday to head into Leeds city centre and run down a road and back again with 7,500 other mad people.

But it turned out to be well worth the effort for a really (and I never thought I'd ever say this) enjoyable 10K race.

Waiting at the start line

I think I enjoyed it more than the Sheffield 10K on Day 70 - perhaps because the weather was cold and crisp and we were on more familiar territory.

Boyfriend Andy and I both beat our own times from the Sheffield 10K - he finished in 47 minutes, shaving five minutes off his last time, and I did it in 55 m 25s, so quite pleased - and surprised - to get my time down by eight minutes. Our friend Tim finished in a very impressive 41 minutes.

Chips on and ready to start

Despite the fact the car thermometer said it was below freezing on the way there, the sun was out and it was near perfect conditions for a run (apart from the sun in the eyes!). My leg was hurting for the first two kilometres or so, but bythe 4K mark I'd forgotten all about it and was feeling good. At 7K I struggled, but by 9K I had enough left to stride up the hill into a 'sprint' finish. Get me!

Here's a video I took as I passed Kirkstall Abbey, at the half-way mark and on the last run up to the finish line. (Excuse my heavy breathing!)

So a good day overall, the only bad news being that I failed to record it on MapMyRun. I remember crossing the finish line and pressing save, then goodness knows what happened, but it isn't saved. Grr!

Here are my official finishing results, though, so at least there is some evidence!

Here's a sweaty photo and my watch time if further proof were needed